Bishop announces pastoral appointments

Published: May 1, 2017

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments for the Diocese of Little Rock on April 28 and May 2, 2017.

Effective May 3, 2017 

• Rev. Jason Sharbaugh, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Fort Smith to assist with the liturgical schedule at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith through May 14 and at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock from May 15 through June 12. As previously announced, he will provide summer coverage at St. Barbara Church in De Queen and St. Juan Diego Church in Wickes, effective June 13 through Aug. 7 and will begin his appointment as associate pastor and director of faith formation at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville and associate pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Lincoln, effective Aug. 8.
• Rev. John K. Antony, JCL, will take charge of St. Boniface Church in Fort Smith, in his capacity as dean of the West River Valley Deanery, through May 14. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow. 

Effective May 15, 2017 

• Rev. Mario Jacobo, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock to begin his appointment as administrator of St. Boniface Church in Fort Smith. This is a change to the previously announced effective date of June 13.

Effective June 13, 2017

• Rev. Mathew Vianney Malapati Santhaiah, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. James Church in Searcy and St. Richard Church in Bald Knob to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Polycarp Ssebbowa, appointed pastor of St. James Church in Searcy and St. Richard Church in Bald Knob. He is relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. Mary Church in Batesville, and St. Cecilia Church in Newport.
• Rev. Stephen J. Gadberry, appointed administrator of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Dc. Martin J. Siebold, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. Balaraju Akkala, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Dc. Stephen W. Hart, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. Arokiasamy Madhichetty Irudayaraj, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Balaraju Desam, appointed administrator of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Chandra Kodavatikanti, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Dc. Michael Johns, assigned to minister as deacon at Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs.
• Rev. John B. Tuyen Kim Tran, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Agnes Church in Mena and All Saints Church in Mount Ida to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Kalamazoo.
• Rev. Joseph Shantiraj, appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in Mena and All Saints Church in Mount Ida. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge.
• Msgr. Jack D. Harris, appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton.
• Rev. Aby Abraham, IMS, a priest of the Indian Missionary Society, appointed associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge.
• Dc. William W. Burmester, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Dc. Ramsés A. Mendieta Lacayo, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Dc. J. Lucas Womack, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. Rajasekhar Chittem, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
• Rev. Felix Chirapurathel, O.Praem., relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. Albert Church in Heber Springs and as associate pastor for Hispanic Ministry at St. Mary Church in Batesville, to return to his community, the Norbertine Fathers in India.
• Rev. Chanda Pillai PJ, IMS, a priest of the Indian Missionary Society, appointed administrator of St. Albert Church in Heber Springs.
• Rev. C. Richard “Rick” Hobbs, III, appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Michael Church in Van Buren.
• Rev. Rubén Quinteros, appointed from administrator to pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marché.)
• Rev. Alejandro Puello, appointed from administrator to pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron.
• Rev. Robert Cigainero, appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Louis Church in Camden and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia.
• Rev. Toshio Sato, CM, appointed from administrator to pastor of St Anne Church in North Little Rock. He remains assigned to Spanish language ministry at St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs.
• Rev. Christopher Okeke, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home, St. Mary Church in Mountain View and from celebrating Latin Mass in Northern Arkansas, to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria.
• Rev. Nazarus Maduba, appointed associate pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home, St. Mary Church in Mountain View and to celebrate Latin Mass in Mountain Home and in Cherokee Village. He is relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. Michael Church in Cherokee Village, and St. Mary of the Mount Church in Horseshoe Bend.
• Rev. Amal Raju Punganoor Lourduswamy, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed administrator of St. Michael Church in Cherokee Village, and St. Mary of the Mount Church in Horseshoe Bend.

Effective Aug. 8, 2017

• Rev. Jason Tyler, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Lincoln. He remains pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville.

• Rev. Jules Norbert Njopmo, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Lincoln. He remains associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville.

• Rev. Andrew Hart, appointed pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Lincoln, and to serve part time in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville.